Thirteen year old Cora Templeman is the youngest of four children and attends 8th grade at Waukee Trailridge School. She is a military brat, daughter of COL Matt Templeman, US Army (Retired) and Mrs. Lori Templeman. Born in Texas, Cora lived in Kyle, Tx; Washington, DC; Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Burke, Virginia before moving to Dallas Center, Iowa in 2022.
Cora has always wanted to start a business, and had explored making balloon animals. When Trailridge started a crochet club, Cora attended and learned to crochet from Ms. Melissa Barrie. Cora then taught herself to crochet more intricate designs by watching YouTube videos. Her friends started asking to buy plushies, which gave her the idea of selling crochet collectibles. Her first show was at the Horizon Event Center in Clive in March of this year, and she has been a regular at craft shows and farmers markets as far away as Mason City. Cora loves turning her passion for crochet into a business, and customers love her creations! You can find crocheted whales, cats, axolotls and more at booth #907 at the Des Moines Holiday Holiday Boutique. You might even consider making your own critter cove!
The Des Moines Holiday Boutique, hosted by Marketplace Events, is set to make a significant impact on local food insecurity this year through its partnership with the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC). The event, scheduled for November 15-17 at the Iowa Events Center, will feature the “Fill a Cupboard for the Holidays” initiative, addressing an urgent community need.
The “Fill a Cupboard for the Holidays” initiative offers a simple yet impactful way for attendees to contribute. For $30, shoppers can provide the equivalent of one meal for a family of four. To facilitate donations, QR codes will be prominently displayed throughout the event, linking directly to the donation portal. Additionally, DMARC will host an information booth where visitors can learn more about the organization's work and make contributions.
“By integrating this charitable initiative into our event, we're offering our attendees a meaningful way to give back while they shop,” said Marc Gary, Show Manager of the Des Moines Holiday Boutique. “It's an opportunity to impact local families struggling with food insecurity directly.”
Event Details:
Dates: November 15-17, 2024
Location: Iowa Events Center, Des Moines, Iowa
Admission: Adults $12 online (pre-purchase), $14 at the door; Children 12 and under free
For more information about the Holiday Boutique, including a full list of local vendors, click here.
For a closer look at Cora's designs, visit Iowa Live on Facebook.